Preview of Fort Wayne at Cleveland State Women’s Basketball

CLEVELAND (Interstat) — A key Horizon League women’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the Cleveland State Vikings host the Fort Wayne Mastodons at Wolstein Center.

Both teams look to rebound from midweek road losses. Fort Wayne (15-9 overall) fell 67-70 at Wright State on Thursday, while Cleveland State (17-8) dropped a 70-78 decision at IU Indy on Wednesday.

The contest is a rematch of a Jan. 21 meeting in Fort Wayne, where the Mastodons secured an 80-70 victory. That result will likely fuel the Vikings, who have lost two of their last three games.

A marquee individual matchup will feature two of the league’s top scorers. Fort Wayne’s Alana Nelson, who torched Cleveland State for 23 points in the first meeting, enters on a hot streak. She is averaging 20.3 points over her last three games, including a 25-point performance in a win over Detroit on Feb. 1.

Cleveland State will counter with Izabella Zingaro, who posted 22 points in the loss at Fort Wayne and is coming off a 24-point effort at IU Indy. Her dominant double-double of 25 points and 15 rebounds in a win at Northern Kentucky on Jan. 31 underscores her all-around threat.

The Vikings have been strong at home, winning their last two at Wolstein Center by an average of 20 points. Fort Wayne has shown resilience on the road, with a recent overtime win at Northern Kentucky.

With the Horizon League tournament seeding at stake, Saturday’s game offers both teams a chance to solidify their standing. Fort Wayne seeks a regular-season sweep, while Cleveland State aims to defend its home court and avenge its earlier defeat.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.